The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-21
THE BLACK NAPOLEON OF FL
NANCE.
A Story of the Origin of the Mitkiewicz
Banking Scheme.
Fron, the Ne1c York World

FROM ue NeU 1OTE W ora.
SAN Francisco, Sept. 14.-A gentleman
who has resided in China for the past
twenty-six years has arrived in San Fran
cisco by the steamship San Pablo. Speaking
with an Exam iaer reporter concerning the
America Chinese banking scheme known as
the Mitkiewicz concession, he said;
1.-THE syndicate in which Mitkiewicz is a
prominent figure had its origin in quarter
practically unknown. The scheme which
has astonished the financial autocrats had
its birth in the brain of an American col
ored man. George A. Butler. The father of
this gigantic banking scheme is the son of
negro parents and was born in Washing
ton, D. c., in 1885. He became linguist Of
considerabl ability. He had brother at
tached to the French Legation at Paris in a
humble capacity, and to him the future
financier went twenty years ago. When
Arson BurlingaIne was appointed to rep
resent the United States at Pekin he visited
Paris ON his way and took a liking to But
Ter, who had acquired quite Partisan pol
ish Butler spoke French and German flu
entity and had some knowledge of Chinese
He went with the American Ambassador to
Pekin, where he held position as atJachee
to the United States Legation. His APP
titude for acquiring foreign tongues
was so great that after a short residence in
when Burlingame left Pekin, Butler de-
cided to remain in the country where he
had managed to obtain influence among
financial magnates. He was appointed to
the position of warehouse keeper for the
well-known firm of Russell & Co., of Shang-
hal, owners of the fleet merchant steamers
called the Shanghai Navigation Company.
The position occupied by Butler was most
responsible, and the highest confidence was
reposed in his business abilities. The Rus
sell steamers were sold to Chinese business
men, and the company was subsequently
known as the Chinese Merchants Steam
ship Company The new company did not
retain the services of Butler, but in a short
time they found that they were being plum
dered by their own countrymen. At last
they called in the colored manager Butler
soon Strengthened out the intricacies in
which the accounts of the firm had been in
volved.
when the war between France and
China was imminent, Butler succeeded in
having the fleet of steamers transferred to
an American company, hurriedly organized
for the purpose, and with the stars and
stripes flying, the ships continued unmo-
Tested by the French to ply between other
ports and Shanghai At the close of the
war the steamers were retransferred to a
company of Chinese merchants, and the
business reputation of Butler was further
enhanced. The Chinese government was
hard up, and, through the negotiations of
Butler, a loan of million taels was success
fully hoated. with the aid of foreign banks
at Shanghai Butler made an American
and European tour He went TO London,
where he was well received by the Marquis
Tseng, Chinese Ambassador at the Court of
st. James.
sin the course of that visit to London
was Matched the gigantic scheme which has
surprised the financiers of the world. The
chief promoters of the syndicate were then,
as now, Ii Hung Chang, Viceroy at Tien-
Tsin, and Kee Chung, the wealthiest and
most intelligent Of the great Chinese mer-
chants at Shanghai. In the autumn of last
year the Marquis Tseng left London for
China, and Butler at tho same time left
London for New York for the purpose of
pulling wires at that place. After making
what has since been demonstrated to have
been satisfactory arrangements, he left
New York and arrived at Pekin in April OF
this year. He was admitted to the delibera-
tions OF the Imperial Council, and then sud
denly disappeared and returned 10 London.
Tho PRONUNCIATION Of the concession granted
by the Chinese government followed, and
tho connection Of Mitkiewicz with the
scheme came prominently before the public.
"Butlcr is now 81 years OF age, and IL
very dark In color. lie dresses with the
precision OF Partisan. his mannefH are %
,,olishea a. though he were Bourbon Ia the
fnubourg 5t. UeTmaih" b, lriie.al